Game apparatus employing shielded game boards with optical devices for board viewing



Nov. 21, 1967 R. G. BOARD 3,353,829

GAME APPARATUS EMPLOYING SHIELDED GAME BOARDS WITH OPTICAL DEVICES FORBOARD VIEWING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Filed Feb. 9, 1965 RICHARD 6.BOARD BY Sha iro and Shapiro ATTORNEYS Nov- 21. 1967 R. G. BOARD3,353,829 v GAME ARATUS EMPLOYING SHIELDED GAME BOARDS WI OPTICALDEVICES FOR BOARD VIEW1NG Filed Feb. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORRICHARD G. BOARD Sha iro and S/Iczpiro F/G. 13 F/@ 14 ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,353,829 GAME APPARATUS EMPLQYING SHIELDED GAME BOARDSWITH OPTICAL DEVICES FOR BOARD VIEWING Richard G. Board, Bethesda, Md.(3000 Connecticut Ave., Washington, D.C. 20008) Filed Feb. 9, 1965. Ser.No. 431,335 Claims. (Cl. 273-431 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Gameapparatus, such as a war game, employing multiple game boards withshield means to prevent viewing of an opponents board except for limitedviewing provided by optical devices. Game pieces, boards, and viewingdevices are constructed to produce realistic threedimensional displays.

This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly to agame of simulated combat.

In a common type of war game, often referred to as a salvo game, each oftwo players has a game board, which may be merely a sheet of paper, andhas a plurality of playing pieces, which may be merely drawn symbols ofnaval vessels. The game boards are provided with identical arrangementsof identifiable squares, and each player arranges his game pieces inappropriate squares of his board while maintaining his board shieldedfrom the view of the other player. During the playing of the game eachplayer may in turn identify squares of the other players board in whichdetonations are to occur. Hits or misses are scored in accordance witheach players ability to guess the location of the other players gamepieces.

While games of the foregoing type have a certain ap peal, they arebasically guessing games which lack realism or visual interest. It is aprincipal object of the present invention to provide improved gameapparatus, and in particular improved salvo or simulated combat gameapparatus, which offers realistic display.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved game apparatusutilizing optical devices in conjunction with one or more game boards.

Another object of the invention is to provide optical devicesconstructed so as to present a view of a restricted region of a gameboard.

Still another object of the invention is to provide game apparatus ofthe foregoing type having three-dimensional optical presentations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved gameapparatus which may be utilized in the playing of simulated air, naval,or land combat games or combinations thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved gameapparatus in which a shield is pierced to reveal a restricted region ofa game board.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved gameapparatus in which play result is determined by the judgement of eachplayer based upon a restricted display of his opponents game pieces andby chance.

Briefly stated, but without limitation, the present invention isconcerned with game apparatus which, in one embodiment, comprises a pairof identical game boards associated with corresponding players, eachboard being shielded from the view of the opponent. The boards haveidentical arrangements of identifiable squares. Each player is providedwith a set of game pieces, such as miniature naval vessels, which hearranges in appropriate squares of his board. The shield whichproscribes viewing an opponents board may be a vertical wall partiallysurrounding the game boards. At least one optical viewing device isprovided so that at the appropriate time each player may utilize thedevice to inspect a designated restricted region of his opponents board.Depending upon the type of viewing device and the type of shield, eachplayer may, at the appropriate time, look past an edge of the shield orthrough an aperture in the shield, and the display may simulate anaerial view or a ground or sea level view. In accordance with the rulesof the game play results may be determined at least in part by a chancedevice and/or by the type of playing piece making a simulated searchand/or by the type of playing piece located in such a search. Indicatorsmay be used to show hits upon an opponents playing pieces or to showmisses for guiding further search or simulated gun fire. Special effectsmay be employed to provide highly realistic displays.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of theinvention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, willbecome more readily apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplaryembodiments, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an embodimentof the invention which utilizes a pair of game boards, two sets ofplaying pieces, hit or miss indicators, a shield, a pair of opticaldevices, and a chance controlled device;

FIGURE 1A is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating an alternativegame board arrangement;

FIGURE 1B is an elevation view, partly in section, illustrating anotheralternative game board arrangement;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are elevation views illustrating different shieldarrangements;

FIGURES 5-9 are somewhat diagrammatic, partially sectional, sideelevation views illustrating different embodiments of optical devicesand cooperating shields and game boards in accordance with theinvention;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURES 11-14 are somewhat diagrammatic, partially sectional, sideelevation views of other forms of optical devices and cooperatingshields and game boards in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGURE 1 thereof, oneembodiment of the invention utilizes a pair of identical game boards 10and 12 for corresponding players. The boards may be integral orseparate. Each board is divided into identifiable regions, such assquares, and the regions are designated by suitable indicia. Thus, eachsquare may have an identifying symbol within its confines or the squaresmay be identifiable by a coordinate system, such as the letters andnumbers shown. The game boards may be arranged side-by-side on a flatsurface, such as a table. Each board may be seen fully by thecorresponding player but is shielded from the view of his opponent, asby a vertical wall 14, which, in the form shown in FIGURE 1, is Z-shapedso as to extend around two sides of each board. Thus board 10 may beobserved by the player located at P, and board 12 may be observed by aplayer located at 0.

Each player is provided with a set of playing pieces 16, which he mayarrange in appropriate squares of his board. In some instances more thanone piece may be placed in the same square. The positioning of thepieces is governed by the rules of the game. In a naval game, forexample, there may be simulated aircraft carriers, battleships,cruisers, and destroyers, for example. With carrier pieces the game isboth aerial and naval, and landbased aircraft may also be used in such agame, if desired. The game boards may be imprinted so as to designateregions of land and water, and the land regions may be upraised from theplane of the board to produce a three-dimensional elfect.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 optical viewing towers 18 are employed.Although a pair of towers is shown, one tower may suffice for bothplayers. The cross-dimensions of each tower are selected so that thetower will encompass a prescribed number of squares (four in theillustrated embodiment) when it is properly located with respect to thedelineations of the board. In the form shown each tower is supportedupon legs 2%) to permit illumination of the region of the board to beviewed, but this may also be achieved, for example, by constructing thetower at least in part of translucent or transparent material. Eachtower has a viewing aperture 22 through which a restricted region of anopponents game board may be viewed when the tower is properlypositioned. It is apparent that the tower on board 12 is for the use ofplayer P, while the tower on board is for the use of player 0, eachplayer shifting his position laterally at the appropriate time in orderto utilize his viewing device. The viewing devices may be removed fromthe boards between plays.

Different optical systems may be utilized to produce the desired images,and typical systems will be shown and described more fully hereinafter.It sufiices to state here that a simple plane mirror located at the topof the tower in alignment with the aperture 22 and oriented at 45 willprovide an image of the portion of the game board surmounted by thetower.

A chance device, such as a die 24, may be utilized by the players inorder to determine precedence of play as well as play results.Indicators 26, representing detonations, splashes, or flames, forexample, may be employed to designate hits or misses. While manydifferent types of games may be played with the apparatus of theinvention, the following is typical.

In a Battle of Midway each game board represents the Pacific Ocean inthe vicinity of Midway Island and has a mapped representation of theisland near its center. The boards are identical. The playerrepresenting the Japanese side has game pieces simulating four aircraftcarriers, two battleships, four cruisers, and two troop ships. Theplayer representing the United States side has pieces simulating threeaircraft carriers and three cruisers and has an airfield on Midway withan assumed number of aircraft. The Japanese player places his ships inthe squares comprising the Japanese end of his game board. The Americanplayer places his ships in the squares of his game board no nearer theJapanese end of his board than Midway. Each player may move his shipsone or no squares on his board in the movement portion of the firstturn. Then the players roll a die to determine which one conducts airsearches and attacks during the searchattack portion of the first turn.Suppose that the United States wins this privilege. The player then maymake an air search from each of his carriers and from Midway. Heconducts such a search by instructing his opponent to place the searchtower over the squares of the opponents board which it is desired tosearch. If the selected squares contain no Japanese ship, he requests asearch in another area from another carrier. Suppose that within thisarea a Japanese carrier is located. The American player will have anaerial view of this carrier through the aperture of the tower. TheAmerican player may then attack this carrier with one to three planesfrom the searching carrier.

The Japanese carrier attacked can protect itself with its fullcomplement of three planes. First, the attacking planes must penetratethis screen of defensive planes. A die is rolled for each dog fight. Asix downs an attacking plane, a five turns it back, and a four, three,two, or one indicates that the attacking plane gets through to bomb thecarrier. Suppose two planes get through and one is turned back. For eachof the two bomb runs a die is rolled. Odd numbers score hits, evensmisses. Suppose one hit is scored. An indicator 26, which may representa flame or an explosion, is placed on the Japanese carrier playing pieceto indicate the hit. Suppose now that the American elects to make nomore air searches (although he could make two more). The Japanese playernow makes his searches and attacks.

The Japanese player is particularly interested in finding the attackingUnited States carrier, because its decks are empty from its air attack,and it has no air defense available. Suppose that three of the Japaneseair searches fail to locate ships, but that the fourth, from thejust-damaged carrier, locates the attacking United States carrier. Theseair searches are conducted in the same manner as the United States airsearches, by instructions to the American player with respect to thelocation of the search tower. Since the Japanese carrier has been hitonce, its attack capacity is diminished by one, so that it can attackwith two planes. The United States carrier has no air defense, itsplanes being in process of returning. Hence, the two Japanese planesmake their bombing runs unmolested. Suppose that the two rolls of thedie are both odd numbers. Two hits are scored on the United Statescarrier and two hit indicators are attached to it. This carrier now hasan attacking and defensive capacity of just one plane. If it is struck athird time in the game it is considered sunk.

The next turn now begins, having a movement portion for both sidesfollowed by a roll of the die to determine which side gets to search andattack first during this turn.

Surface ships may engage others when searches, by use of the tower,reveal them to be in adjacent or identical squares, as referred to thecoordinate system. Battleships fire three salvos, cruisers two, hitsbeing designated by odd numbers on rolls of the die, Fire power isreduced one salvo for each hit. When fire power reaches zero, the shipis considered sunk.

Midway airfield has three planes for attack or defense plusanti-aircraft defense equivalent to two planes. Attacking Japaneseplanes must penetrate these anti-aircraft defenses in the same manner asthey penetrate defensive aircraft in order to make bomb runs. The firsttwo hits knock out anti-aircraft, and subsequent hits diminish theaircraft available to Midway.

The game ends when the Japanese troop ships are sunk (two hits requiredon each) or when one troop ship reaches Midway and remains there unsunkone complete turn after its arrival.

The game apparatus of the invention can be modified by variation of thegame board, the arrangement of game boards, the shield, the opticaldevice, the playing pieces or the chance controlled device. Variationsof these components may be provided in a large set of game apparatus topermit selectivity or the components may be grouped separately toconstitute different games.

FIGURES 1A and 1B illustrate different arrangements of game boards anddiiferent shields. In FIGURE 1A the boards 28 and 30 for players 0 andP, respectively, are arranged back-to-back and a vertical shield 32 iserected between the boards. The boards or the boards and the shield maybe physically connected or may simply be brought together for play. Atappropriate times during the play selective viewing of board 28 ispermitted for player P, and selective viewing of board 30 is permittedfor player 0, as indicated by arrows p and 0, respectively. Such viewingmay be accomplished by the use of optical towers, such as the viewingdevices 18 of FIGURE 1, or by the use of other optical devices to bedescribed. As will be seen hereinafter, the shield 32 may be entirelyopaque or may be provided with viewing apertures.

In FIGURE 18 boards 34 and 36 are arranged one above the other. Board 34is for player P and board 36 is for player 0. Shield 38 prevents theviewing of board 34 by player 0, except for restricted viewing atappropriate times, as indicated by arrow 0. Shield 40 serves the samepurpose with respect to player P, preventing viewing of board 36 exceptfor restricted viewing at the appropriate times, as indicated by arrow1;. Spacer posts 42 may be used to support board 34 upon board 36,Shield 38 is located along the edge of board 34 adjacent to player 0,while shield 40 is located along the edge of board 36 adjacent to playerP. In the form shown, apertures 44 are provided in the shields to affordthe restrictive displays, as will be described.

FIGURES 24 illustrate different shield embodiments which may be employedin conjunction with appropriate game boards and appropriate opticaldevices. Shield 46 is a vertical wall, which may constitute the shield32 of FIGURE 1A, for example, or the shields 38 and 40 of FIGURE 1B, orthe parallel opposite end portions of the shield 14 of FIGURE 1. Shield46 has an aperture 48 along its lower edge, through which a restrictedview of an opponents board may be obtained. In FIGURE 3 shield 50 servesthe same purpose but has an aperture 52 elevated above the level of thegame board to be viewed. In FIG- URE 4 shield 54 has a plurality ofapertures 56 of diiferent size, shape, and location. These may beutilized selectively in accordance with the rules of the game.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an optical device 58 which may be utilized toobtain a ground or sea level view of a restricted portion of a gameboard 60 which, for example, may be one of the game boards of FIGURE 1.Shield 62 is provided with a ground or sea level aperture 64 and may beconstructed like shield 46 of FIGURE 2, for example. The optical deviceis a periscope having apertures 66 and 68 and associated forty-fivedegree mirrors 70 and 72. At the appropriate time a player is permittedto place the optical device adjacent to aperture 64 at a selectedposition along the width of the board and, by looking through aperture66, to obtain a restricted view of the board in order to search out anopponents playing pieces. Screens or reticules may be provided in theoptical device, as at 74, in order to produce special effects and/ or toincrease the realism. F0 rexample, a filter may be utilized to produce aclouded or night effect.

The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is substantially the same, except thatreducing lenses 76 are provided within the optical device in order toreduce the size of the optical image. Such effects may also be producedby utilizing curved mirrors.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an embodiment for viewing a restricted region of anopponents game board 78 through an elevated aperture 80 in a shield 82,of the type shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, for example. A periscope 84 isutilized, the periscope having an elevated objective aperture 86 and acorresponding mirror 88 oriented to produce an image of a predeterminedregion of the game board 78. Mirror 88 and cooperating mirror 90 providethe desired display as seen through the viewing aperture 92.

FIGURE 8 illustrates an optical device 94 which may be utilized to lookpast an edge of an opaque shield 96 to observe a restricted region of agame board 98. The optical device is a periscope with one mirror 100oriented so as to provide conveniently a view of a portion of theopponents board on the hidden side of shield 96. The positioning of theoptical device at the top edge of the shield (or any other edge) may befacilitated by guide marks or by brackets to support the optical device.

FIGURES 9 and illustrate a modification in which an optical device 102having a mirror 104 is supported upon the top edge (or any other edge)of the shield, as by U-shaped brackets 106. A cooperating mirror 108 ispositioned at the side of shield 96 opposite to board 98 in order toprovide the desired restricted view. The mirror 104 my be supported upontrunnions and angularly adjusted by means of a knob 110. Furthermore,the mirror may be shifted along the edge of the shield, as indicated inFIGURE 10.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a modified form of optical tower 112, which may bea translucent tube, for example. Mirrors 114 and 116 are oriented asshown to provide, through the viewing aperture 118, an image of theportion of the board surmounted by the tower. A screen or reticule maybe provided within the tube as shown at 120. For example, apartially-transparent cloud filter may be used to simulate an aerialview partially obscured by clouds.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a modified optical device 122, a small telescopewhich may be supported in an aperture 124 of shield 126 to view arestricted portion of board 128.

FIGURE 13 illustrates a modification in which a periscope 130 issupported upon a base 132 and is suitably angulated for viewing arestricted portion of board 134 over the top edge of shield 136.

FIGURE 14 illustrates the use of an optical device which, like the towerof FIGURES 1 and 11, is placed upon the opponents board. However, thisdevice pro duces a ground or sea level view. The optical device 138 is aperiscope with a horizontal extension tube 140 provided at its end witha transparent or translucent screen 142 which may .be used to simulate abackground behind the playing piece 16 being observed.

To illustrate the use of sea level (or ground level) optical searchdevices, a typical game will now be described.

In a Battle of Ironbottom Sound identical game boards are used, eachboard mapping Savo Island off the North Coast of Guadalcanal. Two setsof playing pieces are provided, one representing the surface ships ofJapan, and the other the surface ships of the United States. The boardsare divided into identifiable squares, as in FIG- URE 1 for example, andmay be placed back-to-back and separated by a shield as in FIGURE 1A,for example. Each player arranges his ships on the appropriate squaresof his board, unobserved by the other player. It is assumed that theshield has an aperture along its base, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, forexample. Such an aperture precents the viewing of an opponents boardwhen the players are seated at the usual playing height, except when anoptical device, such as the periscope 58 of FIGURE 5, is used.

Each ship may be moved one square during the movement portion of eachturn. Following the movement portion the players are permitted toobserve their opponents ships, using the optical device, which renders ahighly realistic sea level view, as if from a distance. The players rolla die to determine which player fires first, each player being entitledto six salvos per turn. Battleships may fire within a range of sixsquares from the location of the ship, cruisers up to four, anddestroyers up to three. Hits are scored when the number of a rolled dieis equal to or greater than the range. Thus, at a range of six' squares,only a six on the die is a hit. At a range of five squares both a fiveand a six are hits. Hits or misses may be indicated by placement ofsuit-able indicators, as indicated previously. Battleships may firethree salvos, cruisers two, and destroyers one. Each hit on a shipreduces its salvo number by one, and when the salvo number is zero, theship is sunk and removed from the board. Each salvo is directed to astated square within the range of the firing vessel. If an enemy ship islocated on that square,

the die is rolled to determine if a hit is scored. If no ship is on thesquare, the opponent places a splash indicator within the square, sothat the player firing can observe this indication through the opticaldevice to determine its relationship to the target. This helps tocompute the target location for the next salvo. After six salvos theopponent fires in a like manner. Then another movement portion begins,followed by observation and firing as before. The game ends when allships of one side are sunk or when an agreed number of hits has beenscored. The winner is the player scoring the most hits or sinking all ofhis opponents ships.

Land battles, such as El Alamein, may be fought by providing playingpieces simulating soldiers, tanks, artillery, etc. and game boardsmapped in three dimensions.

Strategic games such as Solomon Islands campaign, may be played withships, soldiers, airfields, etc. over wide areas, such as the SouthPacific, using the air search method described in connection withFIGURE 1. Sea and land games utilizing ships, tanks, soldiers, etc., andsimulating a landing invasion may be played, for example, Omaha Beach.Sea search games, in which restricted sea level views of an enemy areprovided by a periscope having an artificial horizon limiting the numberof squares seen on each search, as in FIGURE 14, may also be played. Forexample, Sink the Bismarck.

The game boards may have identifiable regions other than squares, andwhen two game boards are used, they need not be identical. The chancecontrolled device may comprise dice, spinners, or cards, for example,and may be imprinted to give play results directly in terms of hits ormisses. Search ranges may be limited for different pieces in accordancewith the rules of the game. Search areas from airfields may bedelineated upon the board for convenience. Special searches of areasoutside the usual range of pieces may be permitted in accordance withthe rules of the game under appropriate circumstances. Hits may bedetermined solely by the square designated or by the square plus theindication of a chance controlled device.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changescan be made in these embodiments without departing from the principlesand spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in theappended claims. For example, different combinations of the disclosedcomponents may be used. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are to beconsidered illustrative, rather than restrictive of the invention, andthose modifications which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be included therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A game of the type described comprising a pair of adjacent gameboards, one for each of a pair of players, shield means arranged topermit substantially full viewing of each board only by thecorresponding player and to shield at least part of the other board fromthe view of that player when the players are in their normal playingpositions with said shield means substantially upright between them,playing pieces adapted for arrangement by each player upon his board,and image-forming optical means for selectively providing a player withimages of regions of the board part shielded from him, said opticalmeans having means for providing a predetermined field of view limitedto permit viewing of only a predetermined fraction of the shielded partat one time and being at least in part movable relative to a board toprovide images of different fractions of said shielded part at differenttimes.

2. The game of claim 1, further comprising chance controlled means fordetermining play results in the regions viewed selectively.

3. The game of claim 1, said parts of said boards being divided intozones identified by indicia.

4. The game of claim 1, said boards having geographic areas representedthereon, said playing pieces representing diflerent combatants.

5. A game of the type described comprising a game board, means forshielding at least a part of said board from the view of one player butpermitting viewing of said part by another player when the players arein their normal playing positions with said shielding meanssubstantially upright between them, a playing piece adapted to belocated in said part by said other player, and an image-forming opticaldevice arranged to permit inspection of selected regions of said part bysaid one player to determine whether said piece is located in theselected regions, said optical device having means for providing a 8predetermined field of view limited to permit viewing of only a fractionof said shielded part at one time and being at least in part movablerelative to said board to provide images of different fractions of saidshielded part at different times.

6. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising a viewing tube.

7. The game of claim 6, said tube having at least one mirror thereinarranged to provide an image of the selected regions.

8. The game of claim 6, said tube having at least one lens therein.

9. The game of claim 5, said shielding means having an openingtherethrough, said optical device comprising means for presenting a viewthrough said opening.

10. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising means forproviding a view substantially at the level of said board.

11. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising means forproviding a view substantially elevated from said board.

12. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising a periscope.

13. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising means forlooking past a boundary of said shielding means.

14. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising a tower arrangedto be placed upon said port of said board.

15. The game of claim 14, said part of said board having said regionsdelineated thereon, the cross-dimensions of said tower being correlatedwith the cross-dimensions of said regions so that the outline of saidtower can be aligned with said regions selectively.

16. The game of claim 5, said optical device having means forsuperimposing a predetermined pattern upon an image of the regionsinspected.

17. The game of claim 5, said optical device having means for producinga reduced image of said regions.

18. The game of claim 5, said optical device comprising means forproviding a view substantially at the level of said board and limited inrange along said board.

19. The game of claim 5, said optical device having means for providingan image with an artificial background.

20. Game apparatus comprising a game board, means for shielding at leastpart of said board from the view of one player but permitting viewing ofsaid part by another player when said players are in their normalplaying posi tions, playing piece means adapted to be located in saidpart by said other player, and image-forming optical means associatedwith said board for providing said one player, when he is in his normalplaying position, a view of a board part otherwise concealed by saidshielding means, the view provided being substantially at the level ofthe concealed board part.

References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,232,133 7/1917 Warden 273-1342,293,298 8/ 1942 Macdonald 273- 2,794,641 6/ 1-957 Baker et al. 273-1302,905,473 9/1959 Giannotti 273--130 3,104,878 9/1963 Roger 2731303,127,174 3/1964 Ryan 273-130 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,112,851 11/1955 France.

102,865 1/ 1917 Great Britain.

268,192 8/ 1950 Switzerland.

291,442 4/1916 Germany.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

5. A GAME OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A GAME BOARD, MEANS FORSHIELDING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID BOARD FROM THE VIEW OF ONE PLAYER BUTPERMITTING VIEWING OF SAID PART BY ANOTHER PLAYER WHEN THE PLAYERS AREIN THEIR NORMAL PLAYING POSITIONS WITH SAID SHIELDING MEANSSUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT BETWEEN, THEM, A PLAYING PIECE ADAPTED TO BELOCATED IN SAID PART BY SAID OTHER PLAYER, AND AN IMAGE-FORMING OPTICALDEVICE ARRANGED TO PERMIT INSPECTION OF SELECTED REGIONS OF SAID PATH BYSAID ONE PLAYER TO DETERMINE WHETHER AND PIECE IS LOCATED IN THESELECTED REGIONS, SAID OPTICAL DEVICE HAVING MEANS FOR PROVIDING APREDETERMINED FIELD OF VIEW LIMITED TO PERMIT VIEWING OF ONLY A FRACTIONOF SAID SHIELDED PART AT ONE TIME AND BEING AT LEAST IN PART MOVABLERELATIVE TO SAID BOARD TO PROVIDE IMAGES OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF SAIDSHIELDED PART AT DIFFERENT TIMES.